First Sunday after Christmas
December 28, 2025
| Pastor: Ralph Wrightstone |
Bulletin
Insert Photos |
On this First Sunday after Christmas, the family gatherings on Christmas Day are now over (except for the "left-overs"), all gifts unwrapped (and the wrappings discarded), and baby Jesus has been delivered to his expecting parents, and an unsuspecting (except for a few shepherds) world...the "Christmas Story" would seem to be told. But wait...what of those "wise men"...according to tradition, their trek is not yet complete. Again, according to tradition, it will be 12 more days arter Christmas until they arrive at the baby's cradle. That day has been named "Epiphany" as it confirmed what had been revealed to those sages by their study of scriptures. We are now in a part of the liturgical calendar called "Christmastide" or the "Season of Christmas" or the "Christmas Season" which ends on that "Twelfth Day of Christmas", the 6th day of January.
Today we are looking forward to another arrival on Thursday...a brand new year with all that it will reveal. The resource page has information about many traditions associated with that event. The resource page also has a UDM supplied worship plan for this day: "Signs and Power"..
However your week ahead unfolds, we wish you a very
Happy New Year
Today we are looking forward to another arrival on Thursday...a brand new year with all that it will reveal. The resource page has information about many traditions associated with that event. The resource page also has a UDM supplied worship plan for this day: "Signs and Power"..
However your week ahead unfolds, we wish you a very
for links to some Resource materials for today's service.
For those unable to attend the 11:00 AM Sunday services at the church, a new service will be available here online before 10:00 am each Sunday morning, using the same format as the on-site service. So you may "gather" here for an "Early Service" at 10:00 or the traditional service at 11:00...actually it will be available here at any time all week. We hope that you will find it a refreshing place to come into God's house.
NOTE: Each part of this online service consists of an audio file and, for most, a Link to a pdf file of "projection slides". Click on the 
symbol to play the audio file under a separate browser tab or in a new window. Then select the "Bethel 12/28/25 Service" browser tab or return to this window to open the Link to the "slides". Use your browser's back/return arrow to come back to this page from the slides. It is best to close the tab or window of an audio file before starting to play another.
We hope that you will fully participate in the service provided here, taking the time to raise your voice or read along with the hymns and responses, and listening to the recorded messages and songs that have been prepared for you. Realize that, though not meeting face-to-face, you are virtually gathering with many others for this time of worship, celebration and spiritual refreshment.
symbol to play the audio file under a separate browser tab or in a new window. Then select the "Bethel 12/28/25 Service" browser tab or return to this window to open the Link to the "slides". Use your browser's back/return arrow to come back to this page from the slides. It is best to close the tab or window of an audio file before starting to play another.
We hope that you will fully participate in the service provided here, taking the time to raise your voice or read along with the hymns and responses, and listening to the recorded messages and songs that have been prepared for you. Realize that, though not meeting face-to-face, you are virtually gathering with many others for this time of worship, celebration and spiritual refreshment.
- . Verse - Prelude/Processional - "Sing Alleluia to the Lord"
- . Slides - Welcome and Announcements . (02:21)
- Opening Hymn
. Verses . "We Three Kings" . (UMH 254,v1,2,5)
:
Let us know if you have a favorite hymn that you would like to have included in an online service. -
.
Slides - Lighting the Fifth (Christ) Advent Candle
- . Slides - Call to Worship, Apostle's Creed and Gloria Patria . (02:41)
We hope that you will participate privately or communally in this responsive reading as part of your worship service. - .
Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 148 . (01:33)
......consider following along with a favored translation of your own. - . Pastor Intro and Reading: Psalm 81 . (03:42)...and...
. Thoughts about the Psalm . (09:01)
- . Slides . Prayer Concerns and the Lord's Prayer . (03:49)
The slides here include a list of those for whom prayers have been requested. - Hymn of Preparation
. Verses . "What Child is This?" . (UMH 219)
- The Message
. Scripture:
Matthew 2:13-23 . (02:13)
You may wish to follow the reading of the scripture in your own Bible.
. Message:
"The Escape" . (11:58)
(The "church message" on this day, with the same topic, will be on the "Sermons" page of Bethel's web site later this week.) - Closing Hymn:
. Verses . "Joy to the World" . (UMH 246,v1,2,4)
- Closing Chorus & Benediction:
. Verse - "Bind
Us Together"
Please let us know of any problems you have with or suggestions about this site by sending an email to "bumctlh@gmail.com". If you have any announcements or prayer concerns you would like included next week you may contact Pastor Ralph Wrightstone directly at: 850-591-9785